If you live in a country with four seasons, you’d be aware of the troubles of your skin adjusting to the changing weather. Having the same skincare routine the whole year round may not necessarily be the best thing for your skin.
First off, the dry air can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. When left unchecked, dry skin can be itchy, flaky, and in worse instances, may bleed. Apart from it looking unpleasant, dry skin can be very uncomfortable.
As the temperatures start to dip, there’s no escaping how your skin will eventually succumb to dryness. If you can’t prevent this, then at least learn the ins and outs of relieving dry skin. Here’s how.
- Visit A Dermatologist
If your usual moisturizer can no longer do its job effectively, then you need to seek advice from a specialist. Dermatologists can give you the best remedies for your dry skin. They consider individual factors like skin type, the severity of dryness, and whether you have allergies or skin conditions such as eczema or dermatitis.
Dermatologists would prescribe you face products for dry skin based on what your skin needs and how they can bring the much-needed moisture back to your skin.
- Get To Know The Symptoms Of Dry Skin
To be able to give yourself the best relief from dry skin, it’s important to understand what the symptoms are. That way, you can start applying products as soon as the first symptoms start to show.
These include:
- Stinging or burning sensation;
- Flakiness or scaliness;
- Skin cracks;
- Skin redness;
- Irritated skin.
- Revise Your Bath Routine
When the temperature starts to get colder, you have to be more mindful about your bath routine. There are certain practices you need to do so as to avoid your baths and showers from worsening your dry skin.
Be sure to:
- Use warm water, never hot water;
- Limit your bath time to ten minutes maximum;
- Wash with a gentle cleanser or soap;
- Blot your skin gently with a dry towel;
- Use moisturizer right away after drying your skin.
- Change Your Eating Habits
Relieving your skin from extreme dryness isn’t just dependent on the products you use. It needs to start from within. It involves changing what you eat. As much as possible, consume foods rich in fatty acids to replace the natural oils that you quickly lose in the cold weather. You can stock up on avocados, tuna, or olive oil this winter.
You also have to keep yourself well hydrated to retain moisture in your skin. If you’re not a fan of drinking a lot of water, the winter season is the right time for you to get into that practice. Drinking plenty of water is necessary to boost hydration. This may help your skin stay smooth.
- Moisturize Immediately After Washing
During the warmer months, you may only need to moisturize your skin once or twice a day. When the cold starts to come, however, that’s when you need to bring out your big bottle of moisturizing lotions beside all the sinks at home. You may also make it a practice to moisturize after each time you wash your hands and body.
When you wash your hands, face, or body, you’re stripping your skin off its natural oils. Because these oils are the key ingredients to locking in moisture in your body, it’s vital to replace what’s been lost. This is why it’s important to moisturize frequently especially during the winter season.
- Wear Lip Balm
When your lips are dry and chapped, this can get irritated and spread to the surrounding skin in your face. You’ll want to avoid this from happening. There are many lip balms you can choose from. But, during the cold season, choose one that contains ingredients such as petroleum or glycerin as they help heal cracks. It’s also important to pick a lip balm with sun protection.
- Use A Humidifier
A humidifier is a must-have for every home from fall to winter. This is a device that can bring back moisture into the air. In the absence of the humidifier, the dry, hot air from your heater can dry your skin out. Make sure that the humidifier you pick is proportional to the size of your room for maximum effect.
- Apply Sunscreen Daily
Now you might think that just because it’s cold, you can skip the sunscreen. This isn’t necessarily true. Remember that the sun will still shine. You just won’t feel it as the colder temperature can mask it.
This sun exposure, however, can still make your skin dry, aside from the other effects of the sun on the skin. Using sunscreen after applying your moisturizer can protect your skin from the sun’s harmful, even if weak, rays.
Conclusion
Fall is here. Beyond the changes in season, landscape, and temperature, your body will also undergo changes. One of these is getting dry skin. This affects so many people during the winter season; the effects can range from mild to severe. If you’re suffering from dry skin, it pays to know tips like those above on how to relieve it.
